Disability Rights Arkansas

United Methodist Children's Home Dacus / United Methodist Children's Home (Bono)

*Photos taken by DRA staff during onsite monitoring visits. Photos reflect the most recent conditions observed by DRA staff but may not reflect the current conditions at the facility. If you are associated with a facility and have updated information or photos you would like to share, please contact DRA at rstanford@disabilityrightsar.org

Location: Bono, Arkansas

Population Served: Children and adolescents in need of out of home psychiatric care in a residential setting

# of residents per unit: 25 Residents per room: 3-4 Capacity: 25

Contact with family (Calls and visit schedule): Clients have regularly scheduled phone call opportunities. The number of actual calls depends on the clients wish to utilize these opportunities. In person visitation (assuming no quarantine precautions) is available every weekend and can be scheduled at other times as needed by the family or guardian.

Restraint utilized? Yes Chemical Restraint utilized? Yes Seclusion utilized? Yes

Treatment Components:

Clinical Director - In process of hiring.

Therapists: 2 full-time therapists (1 LCSW, 1 LPC)

Treatment modalities offered: Facility declined to identify any specific modalities available

# of individual therapy sessions/week: Minimum 1 per week scheduled. May vary upon the treatment plan of the client.

# of group therapy sessions led by a licensed mental health professional/week: minimum of 1 with 2 preferred.

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PRLU or OLTC

Buildings and Grounds, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Buildings & Grounds conducted from 10:30am – 11:25am. Census: 15. The dayroom, dining room, transitional hallway, upstairs hallway, and classrooms were observed. MARs checked for 5 residents. No licensing concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Self Report Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Facility visited from 10:30am – 1:30pm in response to a complaint that a resident had taken medication not prescribed to him. Licensing reviewed camera footage and observed residents pushing staff from the entrance of the BI office, and once they gained entrance began searching the office. A resident was observed swallowing a substance. The resident reported to Licensing that he swallowed both pills and coffee condiments. Licensing was informed the staff member was retrained on monitoring/supervision and an email was sent to all staff stating no residents are allowed in the BI office for any reason. Locks have been purchased for all lockers in the BI office as a safety precaution.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • 9.907.2 – Staff member failed to provide level of supervision to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents at the facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Complaint, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Dual (Complaint)
    • Client stated that an unknown staff member got in his face, stuck her fist in his face, and told him that if he didn’t listen to her, she would hit him. Client reported the staff member bent his fingers back, causing pain, put him in a dark room, and closed the door as a form of punishment. It was reported that client obtained 10 Tylenol pills and had to be taken to the ER. Caller stated that some other residents broke into the medicine box. Caller also reported an infestation of roaches and mice at the facility. Client stated he was told that if he reported anything, he would be in trouble when he returned to the facility.
    • Licensing follow-up: The timeframe of the incidents is unknown to Licensing. Camera footage was not reviewed. Specialist spoke with the resident on 9/19/22 and completed a walkthrough of the big boy’s hall, dayroom, dining room, and the focus room. No evidence of bug infestation was noted. Specialist was informed that the exterminator was at the facility on 9/19/22 and comes out monthly. CACD investigation was unsubstantiated.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident, Overdose

  • Licensing (Overdose)
    • Client and peers pushed their way into staff’s office. A peer took medicine (acetaminophen) out of locker while client distracted staff by stealing coffee condiments. Peer hid pill bottle under desk, and while staff was distracted with another client, peer poured pills in client’s hand and client swallowed them. Client was taken to the ER, and after acetaminophen levels were decreased, client was discharged with recommendations to follow up with PCP.
    • Licensing follow-up: Specialist viewed camera footage of incident and observed residents and staff in classroom (ratio 3:1). Residents pushed past staff into the BI office and began going through things. Staff attempted to get residents out of the office with many distractions. Specialist observed client opening something and swallowing but was unable to identify if they were pills or coffee condiments. Outcome: Founded.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Maltreatment, Notice of Incident

Dual (Maltreatment)

  • Client told therapist that on 08/26/22, he was making noise and a staff member was being rude with him. Client threw socks at the staff member, who then ran into the client’s room and kicked client in the back and started hitting him. Client stated the staff member put client in a hold, grabbing him by the neck and leaving scratches. The staff member involved has been placed on suspension during the investigation.
  • Licensing follow-up: Specialist viewed camera footage and observed staff member kick her leg towards a resident at 7:26pm. At 8:14pm, client threw socks and other items at staff, and staff threw socks back in their room. At 8:15pm, client threw shoes at staff, who then threw the shoes down the hallway. At 8:17pm, staff was observed entering client’s bedroom. It was reported that client previously threatened to get staff fired. Specialist observed another staff intervening as confrontation went back and forth. Staff was observed going in and out of client’s room. Other residents were observed watching and/or instigating the situation. Specialist was unable to observe what took place in the bedroom, however observed tension between staff and client. Outcome: Unfounded.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Licensing reviewed camera footage from 8/27/22 and observed resident being aggressive, hitting and punching staff, and attempting to get outside of the dayroom. Staff was observed blocking the hits and talking to the resident. Police then entered and after speaking with the resident and staff, the resident was arrested. No licensing concerns noted.

Police Report

Criminal Mischief First Degree

Officer was dispatched for a large fight between staff and clients. Upon arrival, staff advised that 2 juveniles had been destroying property and fighting staff. Juveniles were semi combative upon officers arrival. Juveniles were arrested and transported to JDC.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (JDC) 1
    • Client and peer caused property destruction and threatened staff. Client charged at staff, punching them multiple times in the head and other body sections. While a peer was in a restraint, client grabbed a staff member, causing peer to escape restraint. Due to the escalation of aggression, Bono PD was called to the facility. Officers escorted client and peer from facility. On 8/29/22, client returned from Craighead County JDC.
    • Licensing follow-up: Specialist viewed camera footage of the incident and observed client’s aggressive behavior.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (JDC) 2
    • Client and peer caused property destruction and threatened staff. While client was in a restraint, peer grabbed a staff member, causing client to escape restraint. Due to the escalation of aggression, Bono PD was called to the facility. Officers escorted client and peer from facility. On 8/29/22, client returned from Craighead County JDC.
    • Licensing follow-up: Specialist viewed camera footage of the incident and observed client’s aggressive behavior.

Police Report

Disorderly Conduct

Officer was dispatched for a juvenile trying to fight employees. Upon arrival, staff stated her boss advised her not to call the police, but she had already done so. Staff stated the juvenile did not hit or strike anyone, he was just running up and down the hall.

Police Report

Runaway Juvenile

Officer was dispatched for 2 runaway juveniles at approx. 11:24pm. Staff stated the juveniles had gotten the keys from another worker and left the facility. On 8/27 at approx. 6:15pm, both juveniles had been located and were being taken back to the facility.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Elopement) 1
    • Client and peer eloped from the facility after peer picked up keys that fell out of a staff member’s jacket. Police were called. Both clients were brought back to the facility on 8/27/22 by Baxter County Police. Client placed on elopement precautions.
    • Licensing follow-up: Specialist viewed camera footage of the incident and observed residents running through the front door with a key fob. It is unknown what staff member the key fob came from due to the dishonesty of the residents.

PRLU or OLTC

Elopement, Licensing Follow Up, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Elopement) 2
    • Client and peer eloped from the facility after peer picked up keys that fell out of a staff member’s jacket. Police were called. Both clients were brought back to the facility on 8/27/22 by Baxter County Police. Client placed on elopement precautions.
    • Licensing follow-up: Specialist viewed camera footage of the incident and observed residents running through the front door with a key fob. It is unknown what staff member the key fob came from due to the dishonesty of the residents.

Police Report

Disorderly Conduct

Officer was dispatched for an assault; Upon arrival, staff stated juvenile was pushing him around trying to get his keys and radio, and juvenile did not actually assault him. Officer spoke with juvenile, who stated he didn’t care and the officer could take him to juvenile detention because his friends are there. No further action taken.

PRLU or OLTC

Licensing Follow Up, Maltreatment, Notice of Incident

  • Licensing (Maltreatment)
    • During routine camera review, the facility discovered a staff member did not execute a proper CPI technique as trained. Client was attempting to get staff keys and kick windows, and staff member grabbed client by the leg causing client to fall. The staff member was terminated.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called, not accepted. Licensing follow-up: Specialist viewed camera footage of incident, and observed staff grab client’s leg with client hitting the floor. The other staff member present appeared to try and assist client from falling but was unsuccessful. Facility cited (R109.1.g: Staff observed causing physical harm to resident). 

PRLU or OLTC

Children's Records Review, Personnel Record Review, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Licensing reviewed 5 personnel files and 5 resident files. No licensing concerns noted.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Fracture (Self-inflicted Injury)
    • Resident reported hurting their hand the previous week after hitting a wall. X-ray was ordered and showed a mildly displaced intra-articular fracture of the fourth distal phalanx base. Negative for dislocation.
    • Licensing follow-up on 8/5/22: Resident’s finger placed in a metal splint and a referral was made for resident to see an orthopedic surgeon. As of 8/8/22, provider waiting on notification for appointment date and time.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Self Report Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Licensing completed full buildings and grounds walkthrough. Dayroom, bedrooms 118 and 128, and Classroom 2 were all under construction and are not being utilized by residents. MARs reviewed for 5 residents.
  • Regs out of compliance –
    • 1.110.17 – Facility reports they will retrain staff, conduct meeting/send email to remind staff the steps to follow when completing a CIR as well as whom to email and where to place the completed CIR. CIR binder will be checked daily and anytime a CIR is completed, all members of the administration will be notified via email. Administrative case manager will ensure CIR’s are uploaded and sent within the allotted time.

Police Report

Assault Third Degree

Staff member reported that she tried to get the juvenile to leave the dayroom and when he got to the door where she was, he hit her with a closed fist in the chest area leaving a red mark. Officer advised Juvenile Officer that juvenile was in solitary confinement away from the others. Staff involved stated the juvenile is leaving the facility tomorrow to go to a different facility, and she was just wanting him gone today.

PRLU or OLTC

Notice of Incident

  • Suicidal Behavior, Injury, & Disturbance
    • Resident attempted to choke themselves with a sweatshirt. After the sweatshirt and all clothing were removed from the resident’s room, resident became upset and hit staff several times.
    • Licensing follow-up on 8/4/22: Facility visited.

Police Report

Assault Second Degree

Staff member reported an assault that occurred on 07/16/22. Staff stated while working at facility, juvenile tried to break a sprinkler with his shoe. When staff took his shoe, juvenile grabbed staff by the arm leaving scratches on him.

PRLU or OLTC

Disturbance, Notice of Incident

  • Disturbance
    • Resident became combative with staff after attempting to get into an office that is off limits to residents. Resident used socks to choke themselves in which staff removed from resident’s neck. Resident then took the socks and came behind staff and choked staff with the socks. Resident was assessed by nurse, and no bruising was noted.
    • Licensing: Incident report received on 7/19/22.

PRLU or OLTC

Monitor Visit, Visit Compliance Report

  • Licensing Specialist: Kendra Rice.
  • Facility visited from 9:45am – 11:15am. Licensing discussed 06/21/22 incident received regarding resident and peer sexual contact. Facility reported the residents are on a 10-foot restriction and received room reassignments. Younger residents have been educated and informed to report sexual harassment. Licensing Complaint is unfounded.
  • Licensing discussed 7/3/22 incident received regarding maltreatment by staff. Camera footage was reviewed and showed resident swinging at staff, then staff in return grabbed resident and shoved them to the floor with staff’s hand around resident’s neck. It appeared that staff was pushing resident’s head to the floor. Resident was assisted by other employees while staff member walked towards the door.

Police Report

Assault Third Degree

Two staff members advised that juvenile lost control of temper and began throwing shoes and pushing on staff members. Officer observed no injuries. No charges requested.

PRLU or OLTC

Maltreatment, Notice of Incident

  • Maltreatment
    • Staff members completed critical incident/hotline reports due to incident in which resident and peer were in an altercation and resident became aggressive with staff. It was reported that a staff member shoved resident to the ground and put their hand on resident’s neck, bouncing their head 3-4 times against the floor. Staff member then used obscene language and grabbed resident by the neck, shoving them towards the wall. Facility reported the staff member will not return to the facility until the investigation is complete.
    • Child Abuse Hotline was called and accepted. Investigation pending. Licensing follow-up on 7/11/22: In-person visit conducted, and camera footage reviewed. Licensing complaint is founded. On 7/18/22, Licensing received notification that staff was terminated from employment on 7/14/22.